MoS Home likely to attend function
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 11: Vandalized during 1990 after turmoil gripped the Kashmir valley, the ancient temple of Goddess Uma Bhagwati at Uma Nagri Brariangan in Shangus tehsil of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district will be thrown open for devotees on July 14.
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Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai is likely to to inaugurate the temple and throw it open to devotees. The idol of Goddess Uma has been brought from Jaipur Rajasthan by Uma Bhagwati Asthapan Trust and it will be placed on sanctum sanctorum on that day.
Renowned scholars of Shastras will perform Hawan at the shrine. The Hawan will begin on July 13 evening.
After its vandalisation in 1990, the Trust started renovation of the temple a decade back and restored it to its original shape. All arrangements are in place for the inaugural ceremony which will be graced by Union MoS Home on July 14, said the organizers of the function.
In addition to the Uma Bhagwati Murti (idol), the Murti of Panchmukhi Hanuman Ji will also be installed in another temple on which work is going on, said the organizers. They added that this Murti has also been brought from Jaipur.
Uma Bhagwati temple at Brariangan is an ancient shrine where devotees used to come in large numbers from different parts of the J&K. The Goddess is the presiding deity of Kashmiri Pandits and every year a grand religious function used to be held over there spanning for days together.
The devotees from length and breadth of Kashmir Valley and Jammu used to visit the shrine to pay obeisance to Goddess whose temple was situated in five springs which are in the shape of Omkar. They are named as Brahma Kund, Vishnu Kund, Rudhra Kund and Shiv Shakti Kund. The Shiv and Shakti are two separate Kunds (springs) one having hot water and another cold water.
However, the temple and the other structures including daramshalas were totally damaged after turmoil gripped the Valley in 1990 and forced exodus of Hindu minorities. With its restoration this grand temple will now be opened to devotees after a gap of 34 long years which is a dream come true for the local Hindus of the area.
The villagers of Uma Nagri and adjoining areas are waiting for this grand occasion impatiently as their sentiments are totally attached to this ancient shrine.
They recalled the peaceful days of Kashmir when they used to come to this shrine which is situated amidst forest to get solace and mental peace.
The organisers said that about Rs 30 lakh were spent by the Trust on the restoration of the temple which included Rs five lakh given by then MLC Vijay Bakaya out of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
However, restoring the entire shrine to its pristine glory needs a huge funding. The shrine needs construction of permanent flood channel around it to drain out the extra water in heavy rains, reconstruction of Yatri Bhawan, Hawan Shalla for offering oblation to the sacred fire from time to time Dhooni Sahib and construction of accommodation for security personnel.
The organizers said that J&K Government has prepared a DPR of Rs four crore for revival, restoration, preservation and maintenance of Uma Bhagwati Asthapan in the month of February this year. The DPR along with the DPRs for renovation of other shrines have been submitted to District Development Commissioner, Anantnag for approval. However, the Trust said that no headway has been made in this regard till date. They have urged the Government to approve the DPR so that the remaining work of the shrine can be undertaken.
The Trust has submitted a memorandum to Government in this regard also and they hope that the Government will take concrete steps in this regard to restore the glory of this ancient shrine which is the abode of Mata Uma the concert of Lord Shiva and whose history dates back to Puranic period.
District Development Commissioner, Anantnag said that for the July 14 function administration has provided all assistance and help. He said the administration has provided tents, mobile toilets and other required services.
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